Tobacco hoist



1957 c. s. HlLL 2,809,758

TOBACCO I-IOIST Filed Oct. 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 47' INVENTOR: cmmis S. HILL.

7 a: 6 v- F g=Z BY ATTORNEYS Oct. 15, 1957 c. s. HILL 2,809,758

TOBACCO HOIST Filed Oct. 21, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Q g a I I I I I I l I I I I l I 5O 5' 7 l J CHARLES 5. H: 1.1..

INVENTOR fi BY Mai-M ATTORNEYS C. S. HILL TOBACCO HOIST Oct. 15, 1957 Filed 001;. 21, 1953 INVENTOR.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 CHAQLE-s S. HILL.

'wwkm ATTORNEYS Unimd States atent TOBACCO HOIST Charles S. Hill, Jacksonville, N. (3.

Application October 21,1953, Serial No. 387,493

6 Claims. (Cl. 214-16) This invention relates to means for elevating and lowering vegetation such -as tobacco within a tobacco barn and more particularly to an elevator for raising and lowering tier poles having sticks of tobacco thereon.

Heretofore, the process of stacking sticks of tobacco within a tobacco barn preparatory to curing the same has been a lengthy and time-consuming process'requiring considerable manual labor. The type of tobacco barn heretofore commonly in use has had a plurality of horizontally extending and vertically spaced tier poles therein fixed to two opposite walls of the barn for the reception of a plurality of tobacco sticks having tobacco strung thereon.

The method of hanging tobacco within the barn comprised manually placing each of the sticks between adjacent uppermost tier poles which'was usually accomplished by a type of bucket brigade whereby a stick of tobacco was handed from one man'to another spaced successively upwardly within the barn. As the-ruppermost tier poles were filled with tobacco the bucket brigade gradually became shorter as the lower tier poles were filled. It is evident that this process required a considerable number of men and also a considerable amount of time. Furthermore, with fixed tier poles, a good deal of space is wasted when relatively short tobacco is hung since the tier poles mustbefar enough apart vertically to'accommodate the longest tobacco.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide means for simultaneously elevating a plurality of tier poles having sticks of tobacco thereon thus effecting aconsiderable savings in time and labor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device'which may be installed in-an existing'tobacco barn without changing the structure of the same other than removing the tier poles fixed to opposite 'Walls of the tobacco barn.

It is morewspecifically an object of this invention to provide a device for raising and lowering tier poles within a tobacco barn which comprisesa plurality of horizontally extending supporting members secured to the inner surfaces of each of the upright frame members ad jacent two opposite sides of an existing tobacco barn.

A plurality of vertically extending channel-shaped members aresupported by the horizontally extending supporting members in spaced parallel relation to each other, the channel members onone side of the'barn being opposed to the chann'elmembers on the'opposite side of the barn to serve as guide means for tier poles'which'extend acrossthe'barn between respective opposed'channel members and have sticks of tobacco positioned .thereon.

The tier poles are movable upwardly and downwardly within the confines of the channelmembersf-by alhoist arrangement which compn'ses'twoxpair of chains having horizontally extending lifter rods connected to correspond ing, ends thereof for supporting opposite'zen'dsofthe-tier poles, there being a pair of chains on opposite sides of the barn which extend upwardly within the-barn around a ro- .2 tatable shift and have counterweights connected .to the other ends thereof.

Each of the vertically extending chanueLguides has a plurality of vertically spaced bores through theflanges thereof and upon rotation of the shafts a pluralityto'f tier poles may be elevated Within the channel, guides by the lifter rods to a desired position within the barn, :at which time a pin may be inserted through adjacent bores in the flanges of each of the channel guides to maintain the tier poles in the desired position thus releasing thelifter rods for further use in elevating additional tier poles.

It is thus seen. that onecomplete layer of tobaccosticks may be extended between the tier poles when theyare in lowered position and the same may besimultaneously raised Within the barn to adesiredelevation bymeans of the hoist. The tier poles may then be retained-in the desired elevation by the pins stuck through the bores'provided in the channel members for receiving the same. The lifter rods may then be lowered and the process repeated until the tobacco barn is filled with tobacco.

While the invention is described in association with -a tobacco 'barnit is to be understood that it may be used for other purposes. For example, various types of vegetation to be dried may be-suspended from the tier poles or suitable planks may be placed across the tier polesiand hay or the like in baled or loose form may be stored there- .on. The fact that the verticalspace-betweenthe tier poles may be varied as desired or the polesmay be removed entirely makes -it possible -to .use' the barn for .many purposes and also makes it possible 'tostoreor cure 'a much greater amount of tobacco thanhas heretofore been possible.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated,

.other objects will appear as the description proceeds,

when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a reduced isometric view of the exterior of a tobacco barn showing a portion of ahoisting'apparatus positioned at one end thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the area indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view takenla'long the line 4-4 in Figure 2 and being of the same scalegbut showing the hoisting mechanism in enlarged proportion for-purposes of clarity;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the hoisting-apparatus taken alongthe line 5-5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional viewtaken along the line 66 in Figure 2, with parts broken away;

Figure 7 is a plan view with parts in section looking down on Figure 5 and showing the gear train of the hoistlng apparatus;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional line 88 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional line 99 in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged isometric view of the portion having the arrow 10 pointing thereto in Figure 6.

7 Referring more specifically to the drawings, there will be observed a rectangular tobacco barn havingfside walls 19,11, 12 and 13 and a hip-type roof 14. The lwalls are supported by a plurality of vertically extending stu'ds 15 supported on a suitable foundation 16 in spaced parallel relation to each other adjacent the inner surfaces of the side walls 10, 11, 12 and 13. The upper ends of the studs 15-are capped as by face plates 20 adjacent the'junctur of the side walls with the roof 14, it being observed'that the side walls extend upwardly beyond the face plate 20 to" exclude air. The plates 20 support 'rafters"22,' which view taken: along the view taken along the 3 in turn, support the roof 14. A door 21 is provided in the side wall 10.

The structure thus defined is a conventional tobacco barn with which the present invention is particularly adapted to be associated. The invention comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending channel guide members 30 and 36 secured. to the inner surfaces of the side walls and 12 respectively. The channel guide members extend downwardly Within the tobacco barn from a pointadjacent the upper ends of the studs 15 and the lower ends of the channel guides 30 and 30' may be spaced any desired distance above the floor of the tobacco barn.

The flange portions of the channel guides 30 and 30' face inwardly within the tobacco barn and it will be observed in Figure 2 that the channel guide members 30 secured to the Wall 12 are opposed from and alined with the channel guide members 30 secured to the wall 10 to serve as guide means for elevating and lowering tier poles 31, opposite ends of which are disposed within the confines of the channel guides 30 30 respectively. One flange .of each of the channel guides 39, 3t) is'preferably cut away adjacent the lower end thereof to facilitatethe insertion'of the tier poles 31 within the confinesfof the channel guides 30, 30'.

The structure associated with the channel guides 30 on the side wall 12 is identical with that associated withthe channel guides 30' on the side wall 10, and for purposes of clarity only the'structure associated with the channel guides 30 will be described in detail, it being understood that like parts will bear like reference characters with the prime notation added. V 7

Upper and lower horizontally extending supporting bar 32 and 33 are secured in spaced relation to the inner surface of each of the upright studs 15 adjacent the wall 10 as by spacers 34 and 35 and screws 36 and 37 which extend through the bars 32, 33 and spacers 34, 35 and are threadably embedded in the studs 15. Each of the channel guides 30 is connected to the supporting bars 32 and 33 by angular brackets 41 and 41 secured to the web portion thereof remote from the inwardly directed flanges. The brackets 40 and 41 are equally spaced relative to the supporting bars 32 and 33 and have inverted U-spaced seats 42 and 43 on the ends thereof remote from the channel 30 adapted to mate with the upper edges of the supporting bars 32 and 33.

It will be observed in the present instance (Figures 2 and 4) that there are five channel guides 39 and 31) connected to respective side walls 12 and 10 in a manner heretofore described, although it is to be understood that any desired number of channel guides may be so secured.

Bearings 44 and 45 are fixed to the upper ends of the second and fourth channel guides 39 and a transversely extending shaft 46 is journaled therein, said shaft 46 extending outwardly beyond the side wall 11 and having a sprocket wheel 47 secured to the outer end thereof. Sprocket wheels 50 and 51 are secured to the shaft 46 adjacent the bearings 44 and 45 as by set screws 49 (Figure 3).

Sprocket chains 52 and 53 extend around respective sprocket wheels 50 and 51 and corresponding ends of the sprocket chains 52, 53 are pivotally connected as at 54 to a lifter rod 55. Suitable counterweights 56 and 57 are secured to the other end of the sprocket chains 50 and 51.

A U-shaped bracket 60 is secured to the outer surface of the side wall 11 adjacent the lower end thereof in mating relation to a plate 61 secured to the inner surface of the side wall 11 opposite the bracket 60 as by bolts 62. Shafts 63, 64, and extend through the wall 11 and are journaled adjacent their opposite ends in the bracket 60 and plate 61, each of the shafts 63, 64 and 65 being limited against axial movement by collars 66 fixed thereon as by set screws 67 adjacent the outer surface of the bracket 60.

7 The shaft 63 has a crank handle 70 secured to the outer end thereof and a crank handle 71 secured to the inner end thereof. A spur gear 72 is secured within the confines of the bracket 60 on the shaft 63 as by a key 73 and a set screw 74 in mating relation with a relatively large gear 75, which in turn meshes with a gear 76, the gears 75 and 76 being keyed on respective shafts 64 and 65 as at 77 and limited against axial movement relative thereto by set screws 80 and 81. The shafts 64 and 65 also have sprocket wheels 82 and 83 keyed thereon as at 84 and 85 respectively, the wheels 82, 83 being confined against axial movement relative to respective shafts 64 and 65 by set screws 86 and S7. A ratchet wheel 90 is keyed on the inner end of the shaft 64 adjacent the plate 61 and held in place as by a set screw 91. The ratchet wheel 90 is engageable by one end of a pawl Q2, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the plate 61 as at 93.

Sprocket chains 96 and 96' extend around the sprocket wheels 47, 47 and 82, 83 for imparting rotational move ment to the shafts 46, 46 upon operation of the crank 70 or 71.

As heretofore described, the tier poles 31 have their opposite ends confined in the channel guides 30, 30' and the tier poles 31 are supported adjacent their ends by the lifter rods 55, 55'. The flanges of each of the vertically extending channel guides have a plurality of vertically spaced bores 97 therethrough and upon the tier poles 31 being loaded with a plurality of tobacco sticks 98 having tobacco T strung thereon, the tier poles 31 may be elevated within the confines of channel guides 36, 30' to a desired elevation and a suitable pin, not shown, may then be inserted in the bores 97 for maintaining the tier poles at that elevation. The lifter rods 55, 55 may then be lowered to a point adjacent the lower ends of guides 30, 30 by releasing the pawl 92 from engagement with the ratchet wheel 90 and another set of tier poles may be mounted on the lifter rods 55, 55' and seated within the channel guides 30, 30 preparatory to loading the same with tobacco sticks 98. This process may be repeated until the tobacco barn is filled.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims. i i I claim:

1. Apparatus for placing tobacco strung on sticks and supported by tier poles within a barn having side walls and a roof comprising a group of vertically spaced horizontally extending bars secured to the inner surface of two opposite side walls, vertically extending spaced parallel guide members mounted on each pair of bars, the guide members on one pair of bars being movable along said bars into alinement with the guide members on the other pair of bars for the reception of opposite ends of said tier poles, a pair of lifter rods simultaneously engageable with a plurality of said tier poles adjacent opposite ends thereof, means for elevating and lowering the l.fter rods, and means for supporting said tier poles at a desired elevation independently of said lifter rods.

2. A tobacco barn for curing tobacco strung on sticks and supported by tier poles, said barn comprising side walls and a roof supported by a plurality of upright studs to which the side walls are secured, means for elevating and lowering said tobacco into and out of curing position within said barn comprising a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending support bars secured in spaced relation to the inner surface of each of said studs on two opposite sides of the barn, vertically extending spaced parallel channel-shaped guides, hooks fixed to each of said guides and each of said hooks being engageable with one of said support bars whereby each of said guides may be removably .and adjustably mounted on each pair of support bars for the reception of opposite ends of said tier poles, a pair of horizontally spaced parallel lifter rods engageable with each of said tier poles adjacent opposite ends thereof for supporting the same, elevating means supported by the studs and connected to the lifter rods for elevating and lowering the lifter rods within the barn, a plurality of removable pins, and the flanges of each of said guides having mating vertically spaced bores therethrough for the reception of the removable pins whereby said tier poles may be supported by said pins at a desired elevation independently of said lifter rods.

3. A tobacco barn for curing tobacco strung on sticks and supported by tier poles, said barn comprising side walls and a roof supported by a plurality of upright studs to which the side walls are secured, means for elevating and lowering said tobacco into and out of curing position within said barn comprising a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending bars secured to the inner surface of each of said studs on two opposite sides of the barn, vertically extending spaced parallel channelshaped guides mounted on each pair of bars, the guides on one pair of bars being opposed to and in line with the guides on the other pair of bars for the reception of opposite ends of said tier poles, a pair of horizontally extending lifter rods engageable with said tier poles for supporting the same, chains connected to said lifter rods, bearings fixed to the upper ends of at least some of said channel-shaped guides, transversely extending shafts journaled in said bearings, sprocket wheels fixed on said shafts, said chains extending about said sprocket wheels, counterweights connected to the other ends of said chains, means for rotating said shafts for elevating and lowering the lifter rods within the barn, a plurality of removable pins, and the flanges of each of said guides having mating vertically spaced bores therethrough for the reception of the removable pins whereby said tier poles may be supported by said pins at a desired elevation independently of said lifter rods.

4. Apparatus for placing tobacco strung on sticks within an existing tobacco barn having Walls and a roof comprising movable tier poles adapted to support said sticks, a first group of vertically extending horizontally spaced tier pole guides connected to the inner surface of one side wall, vertically spaced horizontally extending support bars connected to the inner surface of a second side wall opposite said one side wall, a second group of tier pole guides, brackets fixed to each of said second group of guides and each of said brackets being engageable with one of said support bars whereby said second group of guides may be moved individually along said support bars into alinement with said first group of guides for the reception of opposite ends of said tier poles, a horizontal lifting element adjacent each of said side walls and extending longitudinally thereof, said lifting elements being simultaneously engageable with a plurality of said tier poles, means for elevating and lowering said lifting elements to move successive groups of tier poles vertically relative to said guides, and means associated with said guides for supporting said tier poles at a desired elevation independently of said elevating means.

5. A tobacco barn for curing tobacco strung on sticks and supported by tier poles, said barn comprising side walls and a roof supported by a plurality of upright studs to which the side walls are secured, means for elevating and lowering said tobacco into and out of curing position Within said barn comprising a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending bars secured to the inner surface of some of the studs on two opposite sides of the barn, vertically extending spaced parallel channel-shaped guides mounted on each pair of bars, the guides on one pair of bars being opposed to and in line with the guides on the other pair of bars for the reception of opposite ends of said tier poles, a pair of horizontally extending lifter rods engageable with said tier poles for supporting the same, flexible elements connected to said lifter rods, bearings fixed to the upper ends of at least some of said channel-shaped guides, shafts journaled in said bars, said flexible elements extending about said shafts, means for rotating said shafts for elevating and lowering the lifter rods within the barn, a plurality of removable pins, and the flanges of each of said guides having mating vertically spaced bores therethrough for the reception of the removable pins whereby said tier poles may be supported by said pins at a desired elevation independently of said lifter rods.

6. A structure according to claim 5 wherein the lifter rods extend substantially the length of the barn and are disposed adjacent said two opposite sides of the barn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 354,727 Mills Dec. 21, 1886 2,463,215 Strachan Mar. 1, 1949 2,579,681 Leitner Dec. 25, 1951 2,717,702 Wilson Sept. 13, 1955 

